I am just back from a week up north being grandparent on duty. I brought my oldest (age 15) back with us and he happened to pick up the Democracy NC report card. He was blown away by how the Republicans refuse to support any issue that has to do with the wellbeing of everyday North Carolinians. “Grandma Sondra,” he said, “now I understand why you have to protest.”We really do have no choice. When we think about tomorrow and what this means for folks who can’t find a job, who don’t have health care, who need financial support to go to college, who are making do, hand-to-mouth. And when we think about the future: the world our kids and grandkids and students will grow up in. We don’t have a choice. We need to make sure that they will grow up in a democracy based on the principle and reality of equality of opportunity. That’s why what we do right now, this week matters.So what our choices? This week all our focus is in Raleigh, on the state legislature.Monday, June 24. Hearing on 751S. 4:00 PM. Room 544, Legislative Office Bldg.Plan on heading over to Raleigh early for Moral Monday so you have a chance to register your concern about the state legislature’s attempt to override the decision of the Durham City Council to not provide water and sewer service to the controversial 751 South development at Jordan Lake. Just another instance of the state legislature’s willingness to forget about local control when it comes to supporting big business. Durham People’s Alliance is organizing a bus to take folks to the hearing. If you want to go, contact Kate@durhampa.orgMoral Monday. Stand Up for Women and Economic Justice. 5:00 PM on Halifax Mall.This week Moral Monday is focusing on women’s issues and economic justice.So come on out to stand up for our right to self-determination as women. There is no reason that a state legislature elected to create jobs for North Carolinians out of work should be interfering in women’s private health care and reproductive decisions. There is no reason that a state legislature elected to create jobs for unemployed North Carolinians should be interfering with the ability of the longterm unemployed to collect unemployment insurance, or forcing working families to pay more taxes by doing away with the Earned Income Tax Credit and switching the tax burden from corporations to individuals. Whose legislature is this anyway? If you want to ride the PA bus to the State House sign up at our website:www.durhamdemwomen.orgWednesday, June 26. The People’s Lobby. 10:00 AM – 12:00 NoonEvery Wednesday since April 17, Durham Democratic Women have gathered in front of the state house to protest what’s going on inside and to express our support for public education, Medicaid expansion as part of the Affordable Care Act, fair taxes and fair immigration laws, better gun safety protections for our communities, women’s right to make our own reproductive health decisions, and whatever other decisions are up before the legislature that week. We have reached out to thousands of people passing by, educated school kids about the importance of standing up for what you believe in, and given support to our valiant Democratic senators and state reps inside.June 26th will be our last vigil this session. So come out and join us. Let’s make sure the Republican majority understands that we are wiling to stand up for our rights every day of the week. Sign up to show up and to carpool with us from Durham at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BA5AB28A75-standingSee you at the State House! We can make a difference if we all stand together.SondraSondra G. SteinPresidentDurham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

– Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.Margaret Mead